Chirping baby birds, hopping bunnies and colorful eggs are on the horizon as Easter — which falls on April 17 — quickly approaches. As we get into the swing of spring quarter, be ready to embrace the warm weather with these two free, fun and fabulous yarn projects to try this spring!

Bunny Tote Bag 

If you’ve ever been left sadly bagless at Ortega Dining Commons and had to hold your burger, fries and cup of raspberry Bubly in your arms all the way back to your dorm, this adorable Easter bunny tote bag is the perfect project for you. With cute pink ears fashioned into convenient handles and a familiar, friendly cartoon face, this rabbit bag is a quick, chunky knit. 

Materials needed:

  • 2 skeins
  • 1 skein of bulky yarn in pink
  • U.S. size 11 straight knitting needles
  • Black felt (about 4” by 4”) and black embroidery thread
  • Sewing needle 
  • Tapestry needle

Directions:

For the back and front panels of the tote bag, cast on 42 stitches in the white yarn and work in stockinette for 40 rows. To knit the ears, use a Fair Isle pattern of your choice with the pink and white colors in stranded colorwork and knit two separate long rectangles to double as the handles of the bunny bag. To finish up the tote bag, sew the panels together, sew on felt cut-outs for the eyes and nose and lastly embroider the mouth of the rabbit.

Fried Egg Placemat and Potholder 

This all-purpose egg-themed crochet project is perfect for those into the cottagecore aesthetic, blending spring festivity and everyday practicality. Two complementary colors make a circular placemat that measures about 9” across and features a strong yellow egg yolk in the center surrounded by an off-white exterior border. 

Materials needed:

  • 1 skein of Aran or worsted yarn in yellow 
  • 1 skein of Aran or worsted yarn in off-white
  • 3.5-millimeter crochet hook

Directions:

To make the interior part of the placemat, or the “yolk,” form a six-stitch ring with the yellow yarn and work in the round to increase to 36 double crochet over three rounds. Make two of these yolks and place them together, then work the white yarn around them in single crochet for 13 rounds, increasing gradually to end at 120 single crochet.

A version of this article appeared on pg. 13 of the April 14, 2022 print edition of the Daily Nexus.

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